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VICTORIA — Tensions escalated between British Columbia and Alberta Monday after premiers Christy Clark and Alison Redford held what both agreed was a very short and “frosty” meeting over the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.

“We substantially disagree on this,” Clark said from Calgary Monday afternoon, moments after her meeting with Redford.

“As it stands right now, there is absolutely no way that British Columbia will support this proposal,” she added.

Clark said her meeting with Redford lasted just 15 minutes, and she characterized it as being “frosty and quite short”.

“My message to Premier Redford today was if Alberta doesn’t engage, then the project is just not going to go ahead,” Clark said.

“My point to her was this Enbridge pipeline is going to be a huge benefit to Alberta; it’s small potatoes in British Columbia. If you’re not going to be the champion for it, it’s probably not going to have one,” she continued.

“The ball is very much in Alberta’s court.”

Redford agreed the meeting was less than friendly, but she was equally firm in her belief the next move belongs to B.C.

“I’m an Albertan and when you talk about sharing Alberta’s royalties with other jurisdictions, things tend to get a little bit frosty,” Redford said.

“I gave her the opportunity more than once in the meeting to say that royalties weren’t on the table and she didn’t take that. You can certainly understand that as an Albertan, and the Premier of Alberta, that’s a non-starter.”

Redford added she has told Clark several times the pipeline is a commercial project, and therefore a big part of the discussion has to take place between B.C. and the private sector.

“This is a transaction that will succeed based on the economic decisions that companies make and part of that dialogue, I think, has to be a discussion ... between the government and industry to decide what that can look like,” she said.

“It’s up to the government of British Columbia and the people of British Columbia to decide what that will be, not the people of Alberta.”

Clark’s response was swift.

“I told her, ‘Look, don’t expect that British Columbia is going to come forward with some kind of proposal for a deal with Alberta. We’re not,’” Clark said, recalling the meeting.

“I am not going to be the advocate out there trying to figure out what the solutions are. That’s her job, not mine.”

Monday’s meeting came after Clark sent a letter last week to Redford, reiterating her position on the Northern Gateway pipeline and announcing to Redford she would be in Calgary “should you wish to discuss the issue further.”

Clark and Redford have been at odds over the Enbridge pipeline proposal since the summer, when Clark laid out her government’s five key demands, one of which was that B.C. needs to realize more economic benefits from the project if it is to take on the associated risks.

In her letter last week, Clark reiterated the five conditions, but also suggested she is open to a discussion about how to address the question of economic benefits.

“While others may have characterized this conversation as somehow sharing Alberta’s royalty payments, we have been careful to avoid discussing the source of any benefit-sharing, or indeed the very nature of any increased benefits to British Columbia,” Clark wrote.

“We believe that this is a discussion that rightly takes place between our governments and the federal government.”

Redford said she had hoped the letter meant Clark was ready to rule out royalty sharing.

“Unfortunately, I think that Premier Clark … is sticking very closely to the original five conditions,” said Redford.

“I’ve been very clear and our position will not change with respect to that — royalties cannot be on the table.”

New Democratic Party leader Adrian Dix said he believes Clark is mishandling discussions with Alberta.

“This is a serious issue and I don’t think British Columbians are being well represented on it,” he said.

“I think it’s normal that the premier of Alberta and the premier of B.C. meet, but this is not performance art,” he continued.

“I think it does affect your ability to do these things when the other premiers are viewed principally as backdrops for your political campaign and this is a problem,” he added, saying he believes Monday’s meeting was more about politics than finding a true solution.

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